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Atlanta Boil Water Advisory

Atlanta residence experienced a water scare yesterday. Not just drinking water, but water for all personal uses.

The city issued a “boil water advisory” to certain sections of the city following a power outage at a pump station causing a water outage or low pressure, according to a statement by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Apparently there was no contamination of drinking water and the boil advisory was precautionary. It continues into Julyn7.

Since officials said the advisory was “precautionary,” hopefully, no one was injured by a water issue.

One thing that particularly caught my attention was the warning that “infants, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies should especially heed this warning.”

Infants, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies are usually the first and most severely affected by contamination. This should be a strong advisory to encourage filtering water at your kitchen sink, or wherever you receive your drinking water.

Here is a news article covering the advisory:

“July 6, 2017

ATLANTA – City officials have issued a boil water advisory for parts of downtown Atlanta and South Fulton County.

The affected areas include, but are not limited to: Cabbagetown, Edgewood, Old Fourth Ward, West End, Peoplestown, Reynoldstown, Mechanicsville, Summerhill, Avon Avenue and South Fulton County.

Areas east to Moreland Avenue and west of downtown may also experience a loss of water pressure.

Atlanta Watershed Management said residents in these areas should boil water before using it to cook, drink, or brush teeth. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute.

Infants, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies especially heed this warning.

The City of Atlanta said if you experienced a loss of water at your address but your address is not within the area described, you may want to follow these precautions.

The boil water advisory is in place until further notice.

Businesses are beginning to close because of the advisory. Coca Cola headquarters confirmed they are closing the Atlanta office complex. An official said they had an issue with low water pressure and will remain closed until testing is done.

Deputy Press Secretary for Mayor Kasim Reed, Jewanna Gaither, said the Department of Parks and Recreation is offering bottled water at their summer camp centers as a precaution. The centers are not allowing campers to play outside today to deter any water fountain usage.

The Arthur Blank Family YMCA has shut off water fountains inside the facility and bought bottled water for its campers.

Zoo Atlanta has been given the all clear from their security operations, at 11:30 a.m. today so all of the public water fountains are back on. However, they cannot sell fountain drinks or ICEES at this time. The animals’ water was not affected.

The city is also working to repair several water main breaks and a sink hole.

THE CAUSE

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management released a statement saying a power outage at the Hemphill High Service Pump was the cause in the temporary loss of power. That pump is located at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant which services the areas under the boil water advisory.

Although the city said the issue was resolved within 40 minutes, the boil water advisory will stand for now.

“We have not deemed there to be any contamination, but out of an abundance of caution, we have issued an advisory per protocol,” a statement read.

11Alive has crews working to gather more information. Standby for updates.

ATLANTA – “Early this morning, the Department of Watershed Management experienced a power interruption to a pump station at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant. As a result, portions of the water system served by this plant experienced a water outage or low water pressure.

Although the operation of the pumps was quickly restored and system pressures returned to normal, the City issued a Boil Water Advisory out of an abundance of caution and in case of any impacts to water quality. The City has conducted water quality testing and expects to receive results within the next 24 hours. The Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect until the City receives approval to lift the advisory from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.”